Gauntlet Gallery
What is Cleon Peterson’s piece called “The Nightcrawler (Gold)”
Summary
The Nightcrawler (Gold) depicts a mounted, black-bodied rider on a pale horse swinging a club overhead while a fallen, prostrate figure is crushed beneath the hooves, all rendered in Cleon Peterson's signature flat black-on-gold palette. The composition reworks classical equestrian-conqueror imagery into a brutal scene of domination, squarely within Peterson's ongoing examination of power, cruelty, and the abuse of force.
Why It Matters
The print distills Peterson's central thesis into a single archetypal image: the armed aggressor on horseback, the broken body underfoot, the absence of mercy. By borrowing the visual grammar of ancient Greek vase painting and the heroic equestrian monument and inverting it into something menacing, Peterson turns symbols of civilization and triumph against themselves. The gold ground lends the scene a deliberately gilded, almost sacred or commemorative quality that heightens the irony of celebrating violence. It is a strong, legible example of the artist's mature 2010s style.
Collector Perspective
This is a screen print from 2015 in a small edition of 28, which places it among Peterson's scarcer print releases relative to his larger runs. The gold colorway is a desirable variant of this composition and the tight edition size supports stronger relative demand. Buyers should confirm the print is hand-signed and numbered in pencil, as is standard for Peterson's editions. As with most prints in this range, condition (no handling creases, clean margins, sound corners) is the main value driver. It sits in the accessible-but-collectible tier of Peterson's market rather than at the top of his unique-work pricing.
Historical Context
Produced in 2015, during the period when Cleon Peterson (b. 1973, Seattle) was consolidating his international profile through gallery shows and his ongoing collaborations within the street-art and print world, including work alongside Shepard Fairey. The mid-2010s saw Peterson lean heavily on classical sources, equestrian and processional motifs, and a restricted black/white/red/gold palette to stage allegories of power and conflict. The Nightcrawler belongs to this body of work, using the rider-and-victim motif that recurs across his prints, paintings, and public projects of the era.
FAQ
What does The Nightcrawler (Gold) depict?
A black-silhouetted rider on a pale horse swinging a club overhead, with a second figure fallen and crushed beneath the horse, set against a flat gold background. It is an image of domination and violence.
What is the edition size?
The edition is limited to 28 prints, making it one of Peterson's scarcer releases.
Is the print signed and numbered?
Peterson's editions are typically hand-signed and numbered in pencil. Buyers should confirm the signature and number on the specific impression.
What medium and format is it?
It is a screen print (silkscreen), produced in 2015, in the gold colorway.
Who is Cleon Peterson?
Cleon Peterson (b. 1973, Seattle) is an American artist known for stark, high-contrast scenes of violence and power drawn from Greek vase painting, Hogarth, and street art. He is a frequent collaborator with Shepard Fairey.
Related Works
About the Artist
Cleon Peterson (b. 1973, Seattle) is an American artist known for stark, high-contrast scenes of violence, power and social conflict, rendered in a flat, limited palette of black, white, red and gold. His chaotic compositions of fighting, clubbing and writhing figures expose the abuse of power and the brutality beneath civilization’s surface, drawing on classical Greek vase painting, Hogarth and street art. A frequent collaborator with Shepard Fairey, he shows internationally; his prints, sculptures and editions are widely collected in the urban-contemporary market.
Collecting Cleon Peterson at Gauntlet Gallery
Where can I buy authentic Cleon Peterson prints?
Gauntlet Gallery offers an extensive, authenticated inventory of Cleon Peterson prints and contemporary editions, with new drops added regularly. Browse the current collection at gauntlet.gallery.
How does Gauntlet Gallery ensure authenticity?
Gauntlet Gallery is built on curation, authenticity and transparency — every work is vetted and its provenance, edition details and condition are disclosed up front.
Does Gauntlet Gallery add new Cleon Peterson prints?
Yes. New drops are released regularly across Cleon Peterson and other leading artists; see gauntlet.gallery for the latest inventory.